Container closure system

ABSTRACT

A container closure system providing a lid assembly and an annular locking assembly adapted to be positioned in a locking engagement along a periphery of a container opening is provided. The lid assembly has a center portion circumscribed by a lid rim, wherein the lid rim defines a downward-facing retaining space for enveloping a flange portion of the periphery of the container opening. The annular locking assembly provides a retaining wall having a retaining edge dimensioned and adapted to be received into the retaining space so as to sandwich the flange portion within the retaining space, forming a secure seal to prevent spillage of the container&#39;s contents or accidental removal of lid, or undesired removal of lid by a child. The center portion may form a content aperture for dispensing or receiving said contents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/083,219, filed 26 Jan. 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to container closure systems and, more particularly, to a two-part lid system that is coupled in a locking engagement to a beverage container.

Traditional beverage cup lids can be removed easily or will fall off if the beverage cup is dropped or overturned. This is a problem when riding in a car and spillage is not desired or removal of lid by children is not desired. Spillage of hot coffee can be hazardous to adults; undesired removal of lid may lead to possible chocking on ice in children when an adult cannot supervise while driving. Current beverage cup lids are designed to be removed easily from the beverage cups, and so are only one-part systems that use a pressure fit to secure it to the beverage cup. As a result, bending of the beverage cup or slight upward pressure on the lid causes it to separate from the beverage cup allowing its contents to spill.

As can be seen, there is a need for a retro-fitting lid that is releasably secured or locked to a beverage container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a container closure system includes a lid assembly having a lid rim circumscribing a center portion, wherein the lid rim is defined by three joined portions, forming a retaining space; and an annular locking assembly having a retaining wall circumscribe a container base opening, wherein the retaining wall terminates at a retaining edge, and wherein the retaining wall is dimensioned and adapted to mate, retaining-edge first, with the retaining space so as to be positioned in a locking engagement.

In another aspect of the present invention, the container closure system further provides a first threading along the retaining space; and a cooperating threading along a portion of the retaining wall, wherein the threading and the cooperating threading mate when the retaining space is positioned in the locking engagement by rotating the lid assembly relative to the locking assembly.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the container closure system of claim further includes a container forming a container opening, wherein a flange portion is disposed along a periphery of the container opening, and wherein the flange portion is sandwiched between the retaining edge and the retaining space positioned in the locking engagement.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a detail section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a detailed section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a container closure system providing a lid assembly and an annular locking assembly adapted to be positioned in a locking engagement along a periphery of a container opening. The lid assembly has a center portion circumscribed by a lid rim, wherein the lid rim defines a downward-facing retaining space for enveloping a flange portion of the periphery of the container opening. The annular locking assembly provides a retaining wall having a retaining edge dimensioned and adapted to be received into the retaining space so as to sandwich the flange portion within the retaining space, forming a secure seal to prevent spillage of the container's contents. The center portion may form a content aperture for dispensing or receiving said contents.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 11, the present invention may include a container closure system 100. The container closure system 100 may be made of material that can be repeatedly bent without fracturing, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, various plasticized materials and the like. The container closure system 100 may include a lid assembly 90 and an annular locking assembly 80.

The lid assembly 90 may include a center portion 10, 28, 40 circumscribed by a lid rim 16, 34, 46. The lid assembly 90 may be any suitable geometric shape, such as circular, oblong, oval, and the like, forming a predetermined surface area, so long as the lid assembly 90 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The center portion 10, 28, 40 may radially extend along a majority of the predetermined surface area of the lid assembly 90. The center portion 10, 28, 40 may form a content aperture 14, 32 or a content spout 44 adapted for dispensing or receiving the contents contained underneath the center portion 10, 28, 40.

The lid rim 16, 34, 46 may circumscribe the center portion 10, 28, 40. The lid rim 16, 34, 46 may be formed by an interior portion 52, a top portion 54, and an exterior portion 56, which in turn may define a downward-facing retaining space 50.

The retaining space 50 may be defined by the vertically-oriented exterior portion 56 and the opposing interior portion 52 that tapers toward the exterior portion 56 as the interior portion 52 extends to the shared top portion 54, as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 8 and 11. Generally, the retaining space 50 may form a right-triangular shape, wherein the hypotenuse is the tapering interior portion 52, and wherein the top portion 54 cuts off the “upper” vertex. This cut-off upper vertex, may have a rounded shape or flat, squared shape as defined by the top portion 54 in different embodiments. In other words, the retaining space 50 may define a cut-off right-triangular shape.

A first threading 12 may be disposed along the retaining space. In certain embodiments, the first treading 12 may be disposed along the exterior portion 56, facing the retaining space 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments, the exterior portion 56 may form a plurality of spaced-apart recess slots 30, 42, so as to communicate with the retaining space 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 11.

The retaining space 50 may be dimensioned and adapted to securely receive a flange portion 26 of a container 24, as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 8 and 11. The container 24 may be a typical disposable beverage cup, though its size and purpose may vary. Generally, the container 24 may include an inner surface and an outer surface of a sidewall extending from a container base and terminating in the flange portion 26. The flange portion 26 may be a lip, edge, rim and/or the like. The flange portion 26 may be bead-shaped or otherwise have a geometric shape having a thickness greater than the container sidewall.

The annular locking assembly 80 may form a geometric shape that cooperates with the geometric shape of the lid assembly 90, while forming a container base opening 70. The locking assembly 80 may include a retaining wall 18, 36 having an outer portion 62 and an inner portion 64, both terminating in a shared retaining edge 60. The retaining edge 60 may be dimensioned and adapted to be received in the retaining space 50 to near the top portion 54, cut-off “upper” vertex. As such, the retaining edge 60 may be mated into the retaining space 50 so as to be positioned in a locking engagement. The locking engagement may adapted so that the flange portion 26 and/or a portion of the sidewall of the container 24 may not be pulled out or pushed in of the retaining space 50 by a user of the container 24. Similarly, the locking engagement prevents the lid assembly 90 from being separated from the locking assembly 80 through upward pressure on the former and/or downward pressure on the latter.

In certain embodiments, the locking engagement may be facilitated by rotating the locking assembly 80 relative to the lid assembly 90. In such embodiments, cooperating threading 20 may be disposed along the retaining wall, for example along the outer portion 62, so as to mate with the threading 12 of the lip rim 16 when positioned in the locking engagement. In some embodiments, a plurality of gripping facets 22 may be disposed along the outer portion 62. The gripping facets 22 may be dimensioned and adapted to facilitate the gripping and positioning of the locking assembly 80.

In the alternative embodiment, a plurality of protruding clips 38 may be disposed along the outer portion 62 of the retaining wall 36. Each protruding clip 38 may be dimensioned and adapted to engage a cooperating recess slot 30, 42 when positioning the container closure system 100 in the locking engagement.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The container closure system 100 may be provided. A user may purchase a beverage-filled beverage cup 24 from a restaurant and remove the existing lid and replace it with the container closure system 100 in order to prevent spillage of the beverage cup 24 by positioning the lid assembly 90 and the locking assembly 80 in the locking engagement.

The locking engagement may be facilitated by positioning the lid assembly 90 atop the flange portion 26 of the beverage cup 24, while the locking assembly 80 is slid up the beverage cup 24 through the container base opening 70, so that the locking assembly 80 may be rotated relative to the lid assembly 90 along the first and cooperating threading 12, 20. The locking engagement may be adjustable depending on the shape and dimension of the flange portion 26. Moreover, the relative rotation of the two assemblies 80, 90 decreases the retaining space 50 until, if desired, the flange portion 26 is sandwiched between the retaining space portions 52, 54, 56 and the received retaining edge 60, forming a secure seal. The retaining space 50 may be decreased so that the flange portion 26 is gripped or engaged by at least one or all of the retaining space portions 52, 54, 56 and the received retaining edge 60.

In the alternative embodiment, the lid assembly 90 may be pressed downward upon the flange portion 26. Then the locking assembly 80 may be urged upward as the container base and sidewall slides through the container base opening 70 so that the protruding clips 38 pass downward into the cooperating recess slot 30, 42, positioning the container closure system 100 in the locking engagement.

The container closure system 100 may also transforms the standard beverage cup 24 into a “sippy” style cup so smaller children and infants can consume these beverages without having to struggle with the straw provided by the restaurant, wherein the center portion 40 forms an elongated “sippy” or content spout 44, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The container closure system 100 may be used for non-beverage containers 24. The present invention may be sized and/or made out of any material necessary to contain any substance in a vessel. In high security situations the present invention can be adapted to confirm that the locking engagement has been compromised. This is especially important in the medical field or in the industrial field containing hazardous or top secret products.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container closure system comprising: a lid assembly having a lid rim circumscribing a center portion, wherein the lid rim is defined by three joined portions, forming a retaining space; and an annular locking assembly having a retaining wall circumscribe a container base opening, wherein the retaining wall terminates at a retaining edge, and wherein the retaining wall is dimensioned and adapted to mate, retaining-edge first, with the retaining space so as to be positioned in a locking engagement.
 2. The container closure system of claim 1, wherein the three joined portions comprise an exterior portion, an interior portion and a top portion, wherein the three portions define a cut-off right-triangular shaped retaining space.
 3. The container closure system of claim 2, further comprising: a first threading along the retaining space; and a cooperating threading along a portion of the retaining wall, wherein the threading and the cooperating threading mate when the retaining space is positioned in the locking engagement by rotating the lid assembly relative to the locking assembly.
 4. The container closure system of claim 3, wherein the first threading is disposed along the exterior portion of the lid rim, and wherein the cooperating threading is disposed along an outer portion of the retaining wall.
 5. The container closure system of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of gripping facets disposed along a periphery of a portion of the retaining wall.
 6. The container closure system of claim 5, further comprising a container forming a container opening, wherein a flange portion is disposed along a periphery of the container opening, and wherein the flange portion is sandwiched between the retaining edge and the retaining space positioned in the locking engagement.
 7. The container closure system of claim 6, further comprising a content aperture formed by the center portion.
 8. The container closure system of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart recess slots disposed along the lid rim; and a plurality of complementary protruding clips disposed along the retaining wall so as to mate with the recess slots when the retaining space is positioned in the locking engagement by urging the retaining wall into the retaining space.
 9. The container closure system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of recess slots are disposed along the exterior portion of the lid rim, and wherein the plurality of complementary protruding clips are disposed along an outer portion of the retaining wall.
 10. The container closure system of claim 9, further comprising a container forming a container opening, wherein a flange portion is disposed along a periphery of the container opening, and wherein the flange portion is sandwiched between the retaining edge and the retaining space positioned in the locking engagement.
 11. The container closure system of claim 10, further comprising a content aperture formed by the center portion. 